PaleyFest 2011

FIRST AND FOREMOST. THIS: 

“I am so pleased to renew these three outstanding comedies which are all at the top of their game creatively,” said NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt. “Along with [the already-renewed] 30 Rock, they represent the best of what the NBC comedy brand stands for in terms of originality, wit, and sophistication. The Office continues to fire on all cylinders on the most competitive night of television; Parks and Recreation has come into its own this season as the rightful companion to The Office; and Community is one of the freshest comedies on any network and a solid foundation for Thursday night.”  Source

YES. THANK YOU NBC. I've been worried especially about Community being renewed because it doesn't get stellar ratings and this just thrills me to pieces. I understand that it's the kind of show that's never going to appeal to a mass audience and there are advertisers and financial concerns and demographics and blah de blah but it would have broken my heart to see it canceled. I'm almost equally excited about Parks and Rec because that show is firing on all cylinders right now (this past week's episode was maybe one of the best ever).

This good news comes perfectly timed on the heels of this past Tuesday night when I got to listen to the cast and producers of Community answer questions and just be generally delightful together at PaleyFest in Beverly Hills.

Ever since I first learned about PaleyFest I've wanted to attend, I could just never find someone to go with me. Twenty bucks to see the casts of some of my favorite shows TALK about those shows and screen episodes in a roomful of other fans? Totally worth it to me.

So this year I finally got to go and my friend and I headed down to L.A. on Tuesday, waited in line for about two hours and ended up in some decent seats. (The only downside to these seats was that we were sitting in front of a guy who talked and talked and talked about himself for about an hour before the show. Constant talking. Saying things like, "she saw me as an escape pod from her life" and "that's how I got the job on House" and "I fell into the trap of myself" and "did I mention really really loudly yet that I worked on HOUSE? THE TV show?" Basically, he was a douche and Mary and I could hardly contain our laughter at listing to him. But on the flip side, we have now decided to write a screenplay for a movie/television pilot ABOUT him. And it's going to be huge. One day he'll see it and won't even know it's about him. HA! Suck it dude).

The panel.

Then Dan Harmon came out and introduced the episode we were screening. Actually, he introduced his introduction and then rambled a lot and we love him so it was endearing. The episode we saw was the one that aired Thursday and it's kind of awesome to watch a show with hundreds of people. For the same reason that a movie comedy will seem funnier in the theater rather than at home on the couch. We laughed through the entire 22-minute episode and it was kind of a delightful experience. I think I understand now, to a much higher degree, why sitcoms so often have laugh tracks or in-studio audience laughter. (NOT that I am in any way saying that Community should have a laugh track. It just made it a difference experience that I can appreciate.)

After the screening the cast came out, including Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs and Ken Jeong (Alison Brie and Donald Glover weren't there due to being busy working on other projects) and pretty much entertained us for the next hour with andectodes about working on set and upcoming episodes. 

A few tidbits:

- There is an episode coming up that sounds INSANE. AND AMAZING. Ken Jeong told us that after the table read for the episode the cast got to their feet and applauded the writers - something he's never seen before. I CAN'T WAIT.

- Josh Holloway is in the finale. SAWYER. AT GREENDALE. And there's more paintball. YES.

- Joel McHale can wear the hell out of a button-down shirt and a skinny tie. Also? FOREARMS.

Joel McHale being pretty. And hilarious. Deadly combo.

- Yvette Nicole Brown seems like one of the sweetest, kindest ladies ever. Ever.

- Chevy Chase gets a lot of flack for being a jerk. And maybe he is. But here he said some of the nicest things about his co-workers, including calling attention to the fact that Alison and Donald weren't there and that they are two of the best actors on the show.

- It's always a little strange to see Danny Pudi out of character because he is so much more expressive than Abed.

- Gillian Jacobs is incredibly endearing for the fact that you can see a lot of Britta's awkwardness in her. Also, she's flipping gorgeous.

- After the moderator was through with his questions he opened it up to the audience. The first person got up and said, "I only have one thing to say: "POP-POP!" Everyone, including the cast, died laughing at this. If you don't understand why you are clearly streets behind ;)

- Chevy Chase can't email you. His email is in New York.

- Ken Jeong, as I believe I noted when I attended the filming of the marathon wrap-arounds, has the GREATEST laugh ever. Completely infectious. Apparently he cracks himself up a lot on set and according to Joel McHale, starts saying "Cancer, dead babies, cancer, dead babies..." over and over to try and stop.

- Dan Harmon pitched an idea for an entirely Dean-centric episode where it starts in the study room with Troy saying something like he wants to grow a mustache and Shirley saying she wants to eat better. Then the Dean comes in to make an announcement and when he leaves again the camera follows him. At the end of the episode we return to the study room where Troy has grown a mustache and Shirley is eating broccoli but we have no idea how these things came to be because the episode has revolved entirely around the Dean and his weirdo life.  The audience seemed to LOVE this idea.

- Joel McHale will apparantly be shirtless again this season. NO COMPLAINTS.

So much laughter.

- They talked a lot about hoping they would get picked up for Season 3. AND LOOK! IT HAPPENED. JOYFULLNESS.

- A bunch of the writers were in the audience and got a huge ovation when they were pointed out and told to stand.

- The cast is just so much fun to listen to as they interact. You can tell that they genuinely enjoy each other and the show (they quote lines at each other, can recall the exact names of episodes, etc) and it's awesome to be a fan of a show where the people involved are just so kind. And fun. I want to give them all a big group hug.

- When it was over the cast stayed and signed autographs and took pictures. We didn't join the crowd because it was a little bit of a mad house so we hung back and watched the craziness. One of the writers walked by us at one point and I wanted so badly to turn around and say something to her but I got all nervous and tongue tied. Damn.

After we left my friend and I got temporarily lost in L.A. and wound up at IHOP eating pancakes and talking (plotting our screenplay) until about midnight. All in all it was another successful Community-filled adventure. Thanks to The Paley Center, this cast and the creators for a fun night. And once again, YAY FOR SEASON 3.